Giving details of the meeting, Chief Conservator of Forests (Research and Training) Ashok Kumar told Express Newsline that the workshop was also aimed at making these medical practitioners aware of the fact that not every plant should be taken out from the roots.

Claiming that the workshop was a success, Ashok Kumar said the two-day stay also helped the bhagats to interact among themselves. Although they stayed in the nearby hamlets, these practitioners -- also known as bhuvas -- did not interact with each other, he added. Despite having a knowledge of herbs, they did not get good monetary returns as the people whom they treated were poor.

The bhagats agreed to allow the department to document their knowledge only on the condition that it would not be disclosed without their permission, said Ashok Kumar adding that documentation would be done later.Fifty-three practitioners, who attended the meet, were also advised to do away with notion that the medicines would not be effective unless a puja was performed.

Officers of the forest department, botanists and representatives from the Directorate of Ayurveda, Gandhinagar were among the faculty panel. The participants were also taken for a visit of to the ayurvedic gardens of Gandhinagar, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha.

A similar workshop will be organised in August.